Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: thirstiness, dryness, parched, craving, strong desire, longing, yearning, avidity, hunger, voracity, keenness, eagerness, lust, appetite, passion, love, crave, want, covet, desire, hunger for/after, lust for/after, hanker for/after, have one's heart set on

Antonyms: aversion, distaste, apathy, dislike, hatred, antipathy, disgust, disregard, abhorrence, acrimony, wet, animosity, animus, antagonism, bad feeling, bitterness, be averse to, detestation

Showing 1926 to 1950 of 5000 results

1926. Aren’t All Religions Basically Alike?

John 14:5-14

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... with which the Bible begins, and we must remember that “Adam” is a generic term for humankind. (Gen. 3:9 - in the NRSV “Adam” is simply called “the man.”) I would suggest that the rest of the whole Bible is but a commentary on that question. Christians believe that long search culminated in Jesus Christ, who said that “...the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) So, it is not God who is lost; we are, and, in Christ, God has come to seek and to save us. In the Lyman ...

1927. No Longer Orphans

John 14:15-31

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ can be with all persons all of the time. It is as though Jesus promised: "I have been with you, He will be in you!" The early Church was not a community of memory, huddled around flickering campfires telling sad tales of a long-lost Camelot, it was rather a community of Christ's living presence, and day by day as they gathered together and broke bread in each other's homes they gave thanks that Christ was, indeed, still with them. I believe that there has never been a time when ...

1928. The War of Malchus’ Ear

John 18:1-11

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... III, p. 121.) People began to talk about the honor of England and the great traditions of Elizabeth and Cromwell, and before long Sir Robert Walpole had declared war on Spain. This event in English history is known as “The War of Jenkins’ Ear.” ... position one wishes to take in this matter. What are we to do? Well, if we are trying to be Christians, I think we must take a long and serious look, not only at what Jesus said, but at what He did. We are terribly good at saying what Jesus did, and not so good ...

1929. The Huddle Is Not the Game

John 20:19-23

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... and humane society. Truly, as John F. Kennedy once said, “In this world, God’s work is our own.” So the Incarnation spills over into our daily life. Sometimes we miss this important aspect of the Incarnation. We think of it as only something that happened long ago and far away, something which we celebrate at only one season of the year: Christmas. What we forget is that “Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born; If He’s not born in Thee, thy soul is all forlorn.” (from the German of ...

1930. Only a Carpenter

Mark 6:1-6

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... listed the hymns and after each one noted whether they were to be sung standing or seated. One of his hymns came out one Sunday: “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me,” seated. Most of us are quite content to let Jesus pilot us...providing we can remains seated. As long as it doesn’t cost us too much, inconvenience us too much, then we are quite willing to be His followers, His family. But the minute a cross rears its ugly head, and we are asked to make a sacrifice for our faith, like Jesus’ friends and family ...

1931. On Being the Greatest

Mark 9:33-37

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... Goliath with a slingshot. Amos the prophet comes from tending sycamore trees and challenges the religion of the day which made long prayers and sang loud songs, but neglected justice, mercy, the widows, homeless, orphans etc. Then comes what we call the ... pushcart full of books...” But they would not gain him special favors in admittance. What God looks for is not a long resume, but a long record of service to God’s children.God’s ways are not our ways; and God’s notions of what constitutes greatness ...

1932. On Being in the Wrong Place

Mark 15:21-32

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... of the Volkswagen “beetle,” so the car was driveable. Now they were really late to pick up Dad at the airport. So Mom pulled the little smashed Volkswagen onto the freeway and drove as fast as she dared. All of a sudden she came to a long line of backed-up traffic. Obviously, there was a wreck up ahead somewhere. She sat there and waited as patiently as she could, but finally decided that the situation called for unusual measures, She whipped the little red beetle onto the shoulder of the freeway and ...

1933. The Unfinished Story

Mark 16:1-20

Sermon

Donald B. Strobe

... in the Bible. Why on earth would Jesus ever say such a strange thing...something which could well be hazardous to people’s health? The answer, I believe, is that JESUS NEVER SAID ANY SUCH THING. II. In my Easter sermon I noted that SCHOLARS HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT MARK’S GOSPEL IS CUT SHORT AT THE END OF VERSE 8. Verses 9-20 of Chapter 16 are simply not from the pen of St. Mark. Scholars know this for three reasons: (1.) They are not in our oldest and best manuscripts. Eusebius, the first great ...

1934. A Man Named Pain (Part 1)

1 Chronicles 4:1-23

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... pay back the loan, then he or she would grant the applicant’s loan request. Out of the $10 million lent through character loans, only $30,000 has not been paid back. That is a remarkably good rate of return. (3) Most of us have lived long enough to see that in the long run of things, being a person of integrity, a person who can be trusted, is essential to true success. It’s like a story that Laura Simms tells about a young man who played a wooden flute. One day, the man wandered into the royal gardens ...

1935. Living Large for God (Part 3)

1 Chronicles 4:1-23

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... faith. Jabez did not want more real estate alone. He wanted more influence--more responsibility--more opportunity to make a mark for God. Dying churches live in comfort zones--growing churches are willing to risk great things for God. Remember the church at Laodicea? It lived so long in its comfort zone that it no longer exists today. If a church is not generating new members and new mission and ministry, it is de-generating! Jabez knew God was at work in the world and he wanted to be part of it. He wanted ...

1936. The Lord's Prayer: Hallowed be Thy Name

Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... the new world order--from God''s point of view. For our Hymn of Preparation today, we sang, "Take Time to be Holy." If we don''t care to be holy, there is only one other option. Let me close with this story to show the importance of holiness. Long ago in a small town that sat at the base of a large mountain, the town fathers were meeting in council to discuss ways to cut expenses in order to balance the budget. (Sounds familiar, does it not?) Someone in the crowd questioned a line item that read: "Keeper ...

1937. Brokenness and Bread

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... . They were not only whole, but they were also beautiful. Their legs were straight, and their heads were never bald, and on their faces were beautiful expressions, that I never saw much of in the faces around me. "Young as I was, though, I had known for a long time, that the catalog lied. I knew that under those fancy clothes, there had to be scars, there had to be blemishes and malformations of one kind or the other, because there are no perfect human beings." All we have to do is look around to see that ...

1938. Half-Time is Now Over

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... memories of Jerusalem and are walking to the Village of Emmaus. As Frederick Buechner notes, they are headed in the wrong direction. In Buechner’s words, "Emmaus was not so much a place--as a state of mind. They could have gone any place--just so long as it was far enough removed from the despair and disillusionment that paralyzed them from making a positive move." As these two disciples walk, they begin to review the series of events that had taken place on that day we now call Good Friday. At Golgotha ...

1939. The Fourth Commandment: The Rhythm of Rest or the Rat Race

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... that God has for us. God created us with a need for a rhythm of rest from the rugged rat race to drink deeply of the rich cup of faith--to allow our souls to catch up with our very being. The church bells are more important in the long run than the ringing of the cash registers and cellular phones. The time spent in worship provides a proper perspective for the rest of the other "time." The popular writer Chuck Swindoll reminds us that "fatigue is not next to godliness." That is why I like Elton Trueblood ...

1940. An Eye-Opening Experience

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... need, is for someone to listen to him, to care for him, to love him, not as a patient; but as a human soul..." Jesus Christ is God’s proof and gift that He loves us as a human soul and that He has listened to the deepest longing of the human spirit. When this happens it is an eye-opening experience. 1. Dr. H. Richard Niebuhr, THE MEANING OF REVELATION (MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc.), pg. 61. 2. "A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants," The Upper Room, 1983, pg. 161. 3. Thanks to Bill Schwein ...

1941. Joy: The Echo of God's Presence In Us! (Part I - Introduction)

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... WE KEEP OUR FOCUS ON GOD GOD PUTS EVERYTHING IN PROPER FOCUS FOR US TO SEE CLEARLY HIS ULTIMATE PLAN. Joanne Greenberg''s book, I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN, tells the story of a troubled and suffering teenage girl named Deborah. Deborah has struggled long and hard against a mental illness that has plagued her journey of life, but she is beginning that difficult battle to move forward. She has a dream. In this dream Deborah sees the vision of a great hand coming to her out of this paralyzing darkness ...

1942. A Faith that Works with a Victorious Attitude

Philippians 2:12-18

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... to be victors even when the world thinks we are its victims. What joy would there be if we thought that the darkness could defeat the light that God has revealed in Jesus Christ. Paul knew that the light was victorious because he experienced it on the road to Damascus long after the powers of evil had tried to defeat the light at Calvary. This is the reason why in verse 16 Paul declares, "We do not run the race in vain or labor in vain. This is the reason that we can hold fast to the word of life." Finally ...

1943. Peace or Pieces

Philippians 4:2-9

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... up tomorrow, threw it aside and said, "You don''t need this either, because tomorrow is in the hands of God, and no amount of worrying will change it." And the legend says that the old man smiled, stood up straight, breathed freedom for the first time in a long time, and went on his way. Yes, there are two days in every week that we do not have to worry about--yesterday and tomorrow. Do not let your epitaph read: Hurried, Worried, Buried. Now let me say that worry is not the same as careful planning and ...

1944. Taxes and Tightwads

James 5:1-6

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... not a church) and its class members began to experience what we call the redemption and lift factor in all areas of their lives. Did you know that over 200 years ago, John Wesley wrote a sermon using the same exact verses we are studying today? (You should see how long his sermons were!) With passion, he pleaded: O ye Methodists, hear the word of the Lord! I have a message from God to all men; but to you above all. For about forty years, I have been a servant to you and to your fathers. And I have not been ...

1945. The Measure of Love

1 John 4:7-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... and personal gain. It will focus on self rather than sacrifice. A love based on fantasy can make you feel good for a while, but only a LOVE that connects you with the loving, living God of the universe will provide you with the source to love for the long term. To love, people need more than good intentions and sincerity. They need the Lord. John Wesley wrote 250 years ago, "No man loves God by nature, any more than he does a stone. What we love we must delight in, but no person has naturally any delight in ...

1946. Do You Know What Time It Is?

Luke 10:38-42

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... sense of proportion with regard to what was necessary was in fact depriving the Lord of what he most wished for and depriving her of what was most necessary. And it had come about precisely because she had not first sat at his feet and listened to him long enough to find out what he regarded as the paramount necessity." This insight clearly teaches us that work that is not connected to the worship and praise of Christ will wind up being a distraction rather than part of our devotion to Christ. It will be a ...

1947. A Memorial Forever - Memorial Day

Proverbs 1:1-7

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... it all now. They want immediate gratification. They don''t want to wait for anything. But we serve a God who began things long ago and who will end things sometime in the future. Jesus was at the beginning, and he will usher in the end. Jesus ... of their pictures. But they were so captivated by the sign they missed the real thing. (3) Some of the most important dreams and longings for freedom can be obtained by reconnecting to the original dream that has propelled us to this moment in history. Let us not allow ...

1948. God Is Now Here

Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

Paul E. Flesner

... many different ways during the course of history. That he chose to use angels to speak to those shepherds is not a problem for me. I do believe that the shepherds made a speedy trip into Bethlehem to see this wonder first-hand. I used to think it was a long trip. Not so! Bethlehem is barely more than a stone's throw from the fields where they were grazing their sheep. I also believe that Mary was a virgin and that the child she gave birth to is God's very own Son, even though the medical discipline of ...

1949. A Tireless and Timeless Image

John 10:1-21

Sermon

Robert Noblett

... early '70s is frozen in many memories, too. If you were old enough to watch and understand television in l963, you probably remember young John F. Kennedy, Jr., at the casket of his father Jack. Much closer to our own time, many of us will long retain the image of students running out of Columbine High School with their hands over their heads. Some images are immensely powerful and have a tenacity that is tireless and timeless. If there is one image associated with the Christian faith which, more than any ...

1950. Listen to Him

Mark 9:2-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... the wonder and majesty of the message of the cross, it would change our lives. Garrison Keillor tells a story of a family get-together at Thanksgiving and how every year it was the same uncle who gave the blessing at the family dinner. It was always a long prayer, and inevitably it got stalled at the point where he began giving thanks for Jesus’ death on the Cross. While the rest of the family began to worry about the turkey growing cold, the uncle would begin to weep! Says Keillor: “I don’t know, I ...

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